Method of cleaning exterior surfaces



Sept. 30, 1969 E. P. JOHNSTON 3,470,023

METHOD or CLEANING EXTERIOR suRFAcEs Filed Feb. 14,1964

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United States Patent 3,470,023 METHOD OF CLEANING EXTERIOR SURFACES Ethel P. Johnston, Oklahoma City, Okla., assignor of onehalf to Carl M. Johnston, Oklahoma, City, Okla. Filed Feb. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 344,960 Int. Cl. B08b 3/10 U.S. Cl. 134-29 4 Claims This invention relates to a new and useful method for cleaning exterior surfaces of buildings, driveways, sidewalks, swimming pools, vehicles, etc.

The present invention is concerned with the cleaning of building material surfaces which have become embedded with dirt. The method of the present invention is therefore applicable to such materials as wood, brick and stone and including such surfaces when coated with paint or faced with other materials such as aluminum. The cleaning treatment provided by the present invention will therefore eliminate the need for repainting surfaces where the paint coating remains adequate or properly prepare the surfaces for painting.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an effective method for cleaning exterior surfaces in a rapid and economical manner.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a method through which exterior surfaces may be cleansed in an effective manner and without any harmful effects to the surfaces or persons.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

The drawing is a simplified illustration of the apparatus or equipment associated with the method of the present invention.

The method of the present invention contemplates the establishment of a cleaning service whereby portable equipment may be brought to any desired location at which the service or method is to be performed. As an initial step of the method, the surface to becleaned is coated with a chemical solution preferably sprayed thereon by discharge from a tank under a relatively low pressure. The chemical solution is of a type which is non-reactive with the surface being cleaned so as to avoid any harmful effects yet capable of loosening dirt or foreign matter adhering to the surface by chemical action. The chemical solution is preferably not harmful to persons in the vicinity. Its composition will depend on the type of foreign matter being removed and forms no part of the present invention. After the surface has been coated with such a chemical solution, it is sprayed with a cleaning mixture under a relatively high pressure so as to physcially dislodge dirt adhering to the surface as well as to apply the mixture to the surface. The cleaning mixture is formed by the addition of a mild soap and water softener to water heated to 100 F. to 120 F. The proportions of the soap and water softener to the heated water are preferably 1 pound of soap and softener respectively to 55 gallons of water. After such cleaning mixture is sprayed with impact onto the chemical coated surface, it is followed by the rinsing of the surface with a spray of water discharged under the same relatively high pressure. It has been found that a surface when so treated is effectively cleaned. Also, it has been found that the cleaning process may be accomplished within a relatively short period of time since the chemical solution need coat the surface for only 30 to 60 seconds before the cleaning mixture is sprayed thereon. An ordinary five room one story house, for example, may be com- 3,470,023 Patented Sept. 30, 1969 pletely cleaned by the method of the present invention in approximately three to four hours utilizing portable equipment carried to the location upon a pickup truck.

Referring now to the drawing, it will be noted that the portable aparatus associated with the method of the present invention includes a quick recovery heater generally referred to by reference numeral 10 adapted to be connected through the valve 12 and conduit 14 to an available source of water such as the city water main located at the site at which the cleaning is to be performed. The heater includes a burner supplied with fuel from a fuel supply carried with the equipment such as the 40 gallon butane tank 16 connected to the burner element 18 of the heater 10. Water passing through the heater may therefore be rapidly elevated in temperature so as to supply heated water at F. to F. to the reservoir tank 20 connected to the heater by the conduit 22.

The reservoir tank has 55 gallons capacity for storing therewithin the heated water to which ingredients are added in order to form a cleaning mixture as aforementioned. Accordingly, one pound of mild soap of any suitable well known type and one pound of water softener are added to the reservoir tank for this purpose. The mixture is supplied from the reservoir tank 20 through the conduit 24 to a 30 gallon tank 30.

A second 30 gallon tank 28 is also associated with the apparatus and contains the chemical solution aforementioned which is not reactive with the surfaces to be cleaned. The cleaning mixture within tank 30 and the chemical solution within tank 28 are discharged under different pressures. An engine driven pump mechanism 26 having its own fuel supply is therefore provided in order to discharge the cleaning mixture from the storing tank 30 within which it is agitated as well as to withdraw the chemical solution in the tank 28 under a relatively low pressure. Accordingly, the pressure developed may alternatively pressurize the cleaning mixture at 600 to 1200 p.s.i. and when the pump engine is throttled down, it may pressurize the chemical solution through valve 32 and conduit 34 interconnecting the pump mechanism with the tank 28.

A spray hose 36 and spray gun 38 may be provided so that the hose 36 may be connected to the storage tank 30 through valve 40 so as to spray the cleaning mixture discharged under the relatively high pressure. When the hose 36 is operatively connected to the tank 28 through valve 42, the chemical solution may be sprayed onto the surface under a relatively low pressure for coating of the surface. When the cleaning solution is being sprayed onto the surface 44 for example as illustrated in the drawing, the spray gun 38 will be held at approximately 45 to the surface. In this manner, dirt and grime previously loosened by the coating of the chemical solution, is removed by the action of the cleaning mixture spray. The tank 30 and the pump mechanism may then be connected directly to a source of water so that the surface may be rinsed with clear water at the same high pressure.

From the foregoing description, the method and apparatus of the present invention will be apparent. It will therefore be appreciated, that the components of the apparatus may be mounted on any portable frame capable of being carried on a pickup truck or the like to the desired location at which the cleaning surface is to be performed. All surfaces associated with the building may rapidly and economically be cleaned without damage to the surfaces or injury to persons in the vicinity.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention 3 to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A method of cleaning foreign matter from an exterior surface comprising the steps of: initially spraying said surface with a chemical solution under a relatively low pressure to coat the surface; subsequently spraying the surface with a cleaning mixture under a relatively high pressure to physically dislodge the foreign matter loosened by the action of said chemical solution; and finally rinsing the surface with a spray of water under said relatively high pressure; said cleaning mixture being formed from ingredients mixed with water preheated to temperatures below boiling, agitation and forced fiow of said cleaning mixture under said relatively high pressure being effected by a fuel engine driven pump mechanism, the operation of which is throttled to forcedly induce flow of the chemical solution at said relatively low pressure.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said relatively high pressure is in the range of 600 to 1200 p.s.i.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the temperature 4 of the preheated water is in the range of 110 F. to 120 F. 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the surface remains coated with the chemical solution for to seconds prior to spraying by the cleaning mixture.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 275,327 4/1883 Caffall 134-29 1,357,730 11/1920 Schaefer 13429 1,529,168 3/1925 Cleveland 13429 2,653,116 9/1953 Whitcomb et a1. 134-22 XR 2,685,293 8/1954 Dauphinee et a1.

2,711,978 6/1955 Groom 134-36 XR 2,952,571 9/1960 Freedman 134--30 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 644,791 10/1950 Great Britain.

JOSEPH SCOVRONlEK, Primary Examiner JOSEPH T. ZATARGA, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 13436 

1. A METHOD OF CLEANING FOREIGN MATTER FROM AN EXTERIOR SURFACE COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: INITIALLY SPRAYING SAID SURFACE WITH A CHEMICAL SOLUTION UNDER A RELATIVELY LOW PRESSURE TO COAT THE SURFACE; SUBSEQUENTLY SPRAYING THE SURFACE WITH A CLEANING MIXTURE UNDER A RELATIVELY HIGH PRESSURE TO PHYSICALLY DISLODGE THE FOREIGN MATTER LOOSENED BY THE ACTION OF SAID CHEMICAL SOLUTION; AND FINALLY RINSING THE SURFACE WITH A SPRAY OF WATER UNDER SAID RELATIVELY HIGH PRESSURE; SAID CLEANING MIXTURE BEING FORMED FRM INGREDIENTS MIXED WITH WATER PREHEATED TO TEMPERATURES BELOW BOILING, AGITATION AND FORCED FLOW OF SAID CLEANING MIXTURE UNDER SAID RELATIVELY HIGH PRESSURE BEING EFFECTED BY A FUEL ENGINE DRIVEN PUMP MECHANISM, THE OPERATION OF WHICH IS THROTTLED TO FORCEDLY INDUCE FLOW OF THE CHEMICAL SOLUTION AT SAID RELATIVELY LOW PRESSURE. 